Sittings · Document
Report (2025/2138(INI)) 2026-03-03
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
4.3.2026 A10-0015/1
Amendment 1
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Q. whereas the Ombudsman launched an own-initiative inquiry, following a public consultation on transparency and accountability in EU environmental decision-making; whereas the Ombudsman concluded that the average time of 14.5 months and, in some cases, several years, taken by the Commission to prepare draft decisions for granting or refusing authorisation for dangerous chemicals, despite the statutory deadline of three months, amounted to maladministration; whereas the Ombudsman also found that the Commission’s failure to ensure sufficient transparency of the related overall decision-making process constituted maladministration, as it prevented the public from understanding the status of the individual files and the reasons for delays; | Q. whereas the Ombudsman launched an own-initiative inquiry, following a public consultation on transparency and accountability in EU environmental decision-making; whereas the Ombudsman concluded that the average time of 14.5 months and, in some cases, several years, taken by the Commission to prepare draft decisions for granting or refusing authorisation for dangerous chemicals, despite the statutory deadline of three months, amounted to maladministration; whereas these systematic delays represent a major threat to human health and the environment, as they allow the continued use of hazardous chemical substances; whereas the Ombudsman also found that the Commission’s failure to ensure sufficient transparency of the related overall decision-making process constituted maladministration, as it prevented the public from understanding the status of the individual files and the reasons for delays; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/2
Amendment 2
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| R. whereas the Ombudsman examined the continued use of corporate sponsorships by the rotating Presidency of the Council, as this practice has given rise to public disquiet regarding the potential influence that sponsors might be exerting on the EU decision-making process, particularly on deliberations concerning EU policy and legislation affecting such sponsors; | R. whereas the Ombudsman examined the continued use of corporate sponsorships by the rotating Presidency of the Council, as this practice has given rise to public disquiet regarding the potential influence that sponsors might be exerting on the EU decision-making process, particularly on deliberations concerning EU policy and legislation affecting such sponsors; whereas this practice entails serious reputational risks for the Council and the EU as a whole and raises concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of the EU decision-making process; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/3
Amendment 3
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital V
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| V. whereas the Ombudsman opened a complaint-based inquiry into how the Commission works on ‘urgent’ legislative proposals, such as the recent amendment to the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP); | V. whereas the Ombudsman opened a complaint-based inquiry into how the Commission works on ‘urgent’ legislative proposals, such as the recent amendment to the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP); whereas the failure to conduct impact assessments and carry out meaningful public consultations when preparing such urgent proposals undermines evidence-based decision-making and risks weakening environmental and climate objectives; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/4
Amendment 4
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital W
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| W. whereas the Ombudsman launched an inquiry into the Commission’s decision to invite only industry representatives to a workshop on pesticides, and concluded that greater transparency could have been ensured, suggesting that the Commission develop a dedicated webpage, publish information and documents about upcoming pesticide events as soon as they become available and ensure that all relevant stakeholders have the opportunity to express their views; whereas the Ombudsman considered public concern surrounding the organisation of industry-only workshops legitimate, as they are perceived as an occasion for industry to disproportionately influence the Commission’s work; | W. whereas the Ombudsman launched an inquiry into the Commission’s decision to invite only industry representatives to a workshop on pesticides, and concluded that greater transparency could have been ensured, suggesting that the Commission develop a dedicated webpage, publish information and documents about upcoming pesticide events as soon as they become available and ensure that all relevant stakeholders have the opportunity to express their views; whereas the Ombudsman considered public concern surrounding the organisation of industry-only workshops legitimate, as they are perceived as an occasion for industry to disproportionately influence the Commission’s work; whereas this raises serious concerns as regards undue influence in a policy area with direct implications for human health and the environment; whereas the Ombudsman highlighted the need to make effective improvements to pesticide substitution rules; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/5
Amendment 5
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital AC
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| AC. whereas the Ombudsman conducted an inquiry following deaths in the Mediterranean Sea and suggested the establishment of an EU accountability mechanism that could independently investigate the respective roles of national authorities, Frontex and the Commission; | AC. whereas the Ombudsman conducted an inquiry following deaths in the Mediterranean Sea, which revealed the existence of serious shortcomings in Frontex’s role in search and rescue operations, including failure to ensure that Frontex’s fundamental rights monitors are sufficiently involved in decision-making on maritime emergencies and a lack of Frontex internal guidelines on issuing emergency signals; whereas the Ombudsman underscored that there is no single accountability mechanism at EU level that could independently investigate the roles of national authorities, Frontex and the Commission; whereas such accountability is essential in order to ensure compliance with fundamental rights and transparency obligations; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/6
Amendment 6
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 4. Is worried about the Commission’s breach of the legally binding deadlines for preparing authorisation decisions concerning dangerous chemical substances, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); underlines that respecting these deadlines is essential to ensure the protection of human health and the environment, and legal certainty and predictability in the EU’s decision-making process; stresses that, in order to address the health and environmental risks posed by PFAS, the Commission should not only coordinate with Member States, their national and local authorities, but also with relevant civil society organisations, academic and scientific institutions, which play an essential role in this field; | 4. Is extremely concerned about the Commission’s breach of the legally binding deadlines for preparing authorisation decisions concerning dangerous chemical substances, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); underlines that respecting these deadlines is essential to ensure the protection of human health and the environment, and legal certainty and predictability in the EU’s decision-making process; stresses that the significant delays accumulated by the Commission represent a major threat to human health and the environment, as this means that companies are able to continue using hazardous chemical substances, including PFAS; stresses that, in order to address the health and environmental risks posed by PFAS, the Commission should not only coordinate with Member States, their national and local authorities, but also with relevant civil society organisations, academic and scientific institutions, which play an essential role in this field; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/7
Amendment 7
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5. Believes that the Commission must address, as a matter of priority, all of the severe shortcomings surrounding its management of risk in relation to substances of very high concern, including by revising its internal procedures to ensure that it can take swifter decisions on these applications, in line with the goals of the Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH)3, to protect human health and the environment; is convinced that the Commission should implement the recommendations resulting from the Ombudsman’s inquiry, including the one concerning applications that lack all of the necessary information; | 5. Believes that the Commission must address, as a matter of priority, all of the severe shortcomings surrounding its management of risk in relation to substances of very high concern, including by revising its internal procedures to ensure that it can take swifter decisions on these applications, implementing the precautionary principle, rejecting any requests for authorisations for substances of very high concern and banning their use where there is persistent scientific uncertainty as to risks to human health and the environment, in line with the goals of the Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH)3, to protect human health and the environment; is convinced that the Commission should implement the recommendations resulting from the Ombudsman’s inquiry, including the one concerning applications that lack all of the necessary information; |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| 3 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj). | 3 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj). |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/8
Amendment 8
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6. Stresses that the Commission should improve the rules on the substitution of hazardous substances in pesticides in order to better take into account effective, safe non-chemical alternatives; calls on the Commission to ensure that the approval process is fully transparent and follows strict safeguards against conflicts of interest, duly taking into account the Ombudsman’s suggestions for improvement; | 6. Strongly believes that the continued authorisation of hazardous pesticides must end immediately; stresses that the Commission should improve the rules on the substitution of hazardous substances in pesticides in order to favour effective, safe non-chemical alternatives; urges the Commission to refrain from approving or renewing pesticide active substances where safe use cannot be demonstrated or where essential data for a robust risk assessment are missing; calls on the Commission to ensure that the approval process is fully transparent and follows strict safeguards against conflicts of interest, duly taking into account the Ombudsman’s suggestions for improvement and to commit to putting an end to the use of all synthetic pesticides by 2035 at the latest; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/9
Amendment 9
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7. Stresses that the EU institutions must guarantee transparency of, and the highest adequate levels of citizen participation in, the EU’s decision-making process; considers it to be of the utmost importance to ensure that citizens can hold decision-makers to account, fully exercise their democratic rights and have access to all relevant information and documents, particularly those of a legislative nature, as also stipulated in CJEU case-law; emphasises that the EU institutions, agencies, bodies and offices must ensure transparency of political negotiations, while taking into account the need for their efficient conduct and adherence to the highest ethical standards in their interactions with private stakeholders; | 7. Stresses that the EU institutions must guarantee the full transparency of, and the highest levels of citizen participation in, the EU’s decision-making process; considers it to be of the utmost importance to ensure that citizens can hold decision-makers to account, fully exercise their democratic rights and have access to all relevant information and documents, particularly those of a legislative nature, including while the legislative process is ongoing, as also stipulated in CJEU case-law; emphasises that the EU institutions, agencies, bodies and offices must ensure full transparency and adhere to the highest ethical standards in their interactions with private stakeholders; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/10
Amendment 10
Cristina Guarda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 8. Highlights the importance of the Ombudsman’s activities in increasing transparency and helping to improve the balanced composition of the Commission’s expert groups, in particular the EU Energy Platform Industry Advisory Group, given the high economic, social and environmental stakes involved with regard to energy policies; notes that the Commission decided not to include civil society representatives in this Group; is of the opinion that EU citizens should be informed of the profiles of all members of the expert groups; | 8. Highlights the Ombudsman’s vital activities in increasing transparency and helping to improve the balanced composition of the Commission’s expert groups, with a particular focus on the EU Energy Platform Industry Advisory Group, considering the high social and environmental stakes at play with regard to energy policies; strongly regrets the fact that the Commission decided to completely exclude civil society representatives from this Group, providing fossil fuel industries with privileged and unmonitored access to EU policymakers and increasing their influence on EU decision-making, thereby undermining citizens’ trust, public scrutiny and transparency; is of the opinion that EU citizens should be informed of the profiles of all members of the expert groups; |
Or. en